Hanging Curtains on Back Tabs Vs. Rings

Curtains with tabs on the upper, back side can be hung at least two ways. You can slide the rod through the tabs, and in some cases you skip using the tabs and opt for rings with clips. Back tabs are strips of fabric which are sewn onto the curtains, creating a row of hidden loops. Rings clip to the top edge of the curtains, and the rings slide onto the rod.

Curtain Length

With back-tab curtains, the full length of the curtain fabric doesn’t hang below the rod. The rod slips through tabs across the upper, back side of the panels, and the top edge of the curtains stand proud above the rod by one or more inches. If the curtains are a bit too long for the window, or for the look you desire, and you don’t want to alter them, hanging them from the back tabs raises the hems a bit. With rings, the opposite is true. Rings have clips attached to the bottom, and the clips grasp the top edge of the curtains. This arrangement lowers the hemline without altering the curtains, letting the full length of the curtains hang below the rod.

Rod Style

The style of curtain rod helps determine whether back tabs or rings are appropriate. Some rods are meant to be seen, others aren’t. Back-tab curtains conceal the rod, as the curtain fabric is on the front side, but they don't hang properly on a round rod. One with a flat instead of a curved profile helps keep the tabs straight. Curtain rings hide nothing, and are best used with fancy rods that you want to show off such as solid or expandable, pole-style rods and decorative dowels. Rings also let you try unusual alternatives to curtain rods such as branches, conduit or copper tubing.

Room Decor

Tabs on the back of the curtains let them hang and drape differently from the rod than with rings. Sliding the tabs onto the curtain rod causes the curtain fabric to form soft, vertical folds, similar to the way curtains look with a sliding track system traverse rod. The folds resemble pleat-top curtains. Opening and closing tabbed curtains is a bit more difficult than with rings, as rings slide easily along the rod. With rings, the upper part of the window casing or trim is usually visible because they hang down from the rod. This is often a more casual look that lets in some light at the top of the window, unless you mount the rod higher on the wall. The curtains may drape less uniformly than with tabs, as rings tend to slide whenever you touch the curtains.

Curtain Weight and Design

Take the weight and design of the curtains into consideration when deciding whether to use tabs or rings. Tabs on the back side of heavier curtains are designed to support the the fabric, which lets the curtains hang properly without sagging or bowing. Hanging heavy curtains with rings can cause the clips to pull, snag or tear the top edge of the fabric. If there are ruffles or another type of trim across the top of the curtains, tabs expose the full decorative edge, whereas the clips on the rings can pinch ruffles and cover parts of the trim. Lightweight curtains are a natural fit with curtain rings or tabs, but if the fabric is sheer, the tabs and rod may show through.

About the Author

Lee Carroll, a writer based in east Tennessee, has authored numerous law and DIY home improvement articles and essays. In addition to holding a degree in paralegal studies, she has more than 10 years of experience renovating newer homes and restoring historic property.